Green Life on Earth

Environmental Pollution Effects on Humans

i2k2net — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:19:49 +0000

We all know that pollution causes physical disabilities as well as psychological and behavioral disorders in people.

Three major types of environmental pollution are:

1.   Air pollution
2.   Soil pollution
3.   Water pollution

The following are the environmental pollution effects on humans:

Air Pollution Effects

•   Irritation of nose, eyes, mouth and throat
•   Reduced lung functioning
•   Asthma attacks
•   Increased respiratory disease like bronchitis
•   Respiratory symptoms like wheezing and coughing
•   Dizziness and Headaches
•   Reduced energy levels
•   Disruption of endocrine, reproductive and immune systems
•   Cardiovascular problems
•   Neurobehavioral disorders
•   Premature death
•   Cancer

Water Pollution Effects

1. Diseases caused by polluted drinking water: Amoebiasis, Typhoid, Giardiasis, Hookworm and Ascariasis

2. Diseases caused by polluted beach water: Respiratory infections, Rashes, ear ache, pink eye and Hepatitis, gastroenteritis, encephalitis, diarrhoea, stomach aches and vomiting

3. Diseases caused due to water polluted by chemicals (like pesticides, persistent organic pollutants, hydrocarbons, heavy metals etc) are:
Cancer, Hormonal problems that can disrupt reproductive and developmental processes, Liver and kidney damage, Damage to the nervous system and Damage to the DNA

Soil Pollution Effects

•   Lead in soil is especially hazardous for young children causing developmental damage to the brain
•   Causes cancers including leukaemia
•   Causes neuromuscular blockage and depression of the central nervous system
•   Mercury can increase the risk of kidney damage; cyclodienes can lead to liver toxicity
•   Also causes nausea, headaches, fatigue, skin rash and eye irritation

I hope now you all are aware of all kinds of pollution.

Is Biodiversity Important?

i2k2net — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:00:16 +0000

The answer is simple as the quality of our planet depends on it. Example, plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen; they clean the air. Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where all and each small and large species have an important role to play.

Let’s take some examples:

•   Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms
•   A larger number of plant species means a greater type of crops
•   Healthy ecosystems can better withstand and can recover from a number of disasters

A healthy biodiversity provides everyone a number of natural services:

Ecosystem services like

•   Soils formation and protection
•   Protection of water resources
•   Nutrient storage and recycling
•   Contribution to climate stability
•   Pollution breakdown and absorption
•   Recovery from unpredictable events
•   Maintenance of ecosystems

Biological resources like

•   Medicinal resources and pharmaceutical drugs
•   Food
•   Wood products
•   Future resources
•   Breeding stocks, population reservoirs
•   Ornamental plants
•   Diversity in species, genes and ecosystems

Social benefits like

•   Recreation and tourism
•   Research, education and monitoring
•   Cultural values

Therefore, we get a lot of services for free. If possible, the cost of replacing would be expensive. Therefore, it makes development and economic sense to move towards sustainability. Species need various genes to ensure successful survival, to prevent the well documented and well known problems of genetic defects caused by in-breeding.

How can we help to solve environmental issues?

i2k2net — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:27:11 +0000

There are some ways that can help to solve the environmental issues:

1) Do not buy wasteful, virtually indestructible and unnecessary packaging that can be a major threat to your environment

•   You should be wary of lots of additives as they could be harmful to you, your children and to the environment.
•   Avoid products that are made with genetically modified organisms.
•   Please do not buy disposable items which can be replaced with re-useable materials. A good example is Kitchen paper. Clothes and sponges are better. If you want to use paper products then look for those made out of recycled material.

2) You should discourage a surfeit of flyers to your mailbox or home

3) You should avoid using toxic chemicals and discourage the use by others

• Weed killers are toxic to many beneficial insects like the dragon-fly that eats a lot of mosquitoes.
• If you are living in an agricultural area then watch for farmers spraying herbicides, pesticides and fungicides. All these are potentially toxic to you and can be carried long distances on the wind.

4) You should buy some strong bags that are made of durable material that can be used over and over again.

• Do not use plastic bags as it releases toxins into the soil.
• Paper is better as it can be more easily recycled than plastic.

5) Carefully think about the things you can replace or you can recycle with re-useable
Items like:

•   Many computer printers have refillable cartridges. This is very cheaper and keeps empty cartridges out of the landfill
•   Use pencils or ink pens like fountain pens rather than disposable ballpoint pens.
•   Do not use paper plates and cups for parties
•   Save plastic and jars containers for storage and canning

6) Eat organically grown vegetables and fruit

• If you are not able to grow your own then seek out a local organic grower or organic store and buy from them. This will be very fresh, free of chemical and be one less quantity for chemical farmers to grow. Please note that it does NOT have to be more expensive.

So, I hope you would like to follow all these points and will contribute in solving the environmental issues.

What are Environmental issues?

i2k2net — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:41:34 +0000

Here are the environmental issues that are because of human activities and effects on the natural environment. Let we discuss in short.

1. Conservation: Due to species extinction, Coral bleaching, Pollinator decline, Invasive species, Holocene extinction event, Poaching and Endangered species

2. Climate change: Due to Global warming, Fossil fuels, Global dimming, Greenhouse gas, Sea level rise and Ocean acidification

3. Electromagnetic radiation and health

4. Dams: Environmental impacts of dams

5. Energy: Renewable energy, Energy conservation, Efficient energy use and Renewable energy commercialization

6. Genetic engineering: Genetic pollution and Genetically modified food controversies

7. Environmental degradation: Habitat destruction, Eutrophication and Invasive species

8. Intensive farming: Irrigation, Overgrazing, Monoculture and Environmental effects of meat production

9. Land use: Habitat fragmentation, Urban sprawl and Habitat destruction

10. Land degradation: Land pollution and Desertification

11. Soil: Soil conservation, Soil contamination, Soil erosion and Soil salination

12. Nuclear issues: Nuclear fallout, Nuclear power, Nuclear meltdown and Radioactive waste.

13. Nanotechnology: Nanopollution and Nanotoxicology

14. Overpopulation

15. Ozone depletion

16. Air pollution: Smog, Indoor air quality, Tropospheric ozone, Volatile organic compound, Particulate matter and Sulphur oxide

17. Pollution: Noise pollution, Light pollution, Water pollution, Visual pollution, Acid rain, Marine pollution, Eutrophication, Ocean dumping, Ocean acidification, Thermal pollution, Oil spills, Urban runoff, Marine debris, Water crisis, Ship pollution and Wastewater

18. Resource depletion: Exploitation of natural resources

19. Fishing: Blast fishing, Cyanide fishing, Bottom trawling, Ghost nets, Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, Shark finning, Overfishing and Whaling

20. Consumerism: Planned obsolescence, Consumer capitalism and Over-consumption

21. Mining: Mountaintop removal mining, Acid mine drainage and Slurry impoundments

22. Logging: Clear cutting, Deforestation and Illegal logging

23. Toxins: Chlorofluorocarbons, Endocrine disruptors, DDT, Dioxin, Herbicides, Heavy metals, Pesticides, PCB, Toxic waste, Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification

So, I hope you would understand all these issues.

What are effects of Global Warming?

i2k2net — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:53:30 +0000

From decades to hundreds and thousands of years, Green house gases stay in the atmosphere. It is not a point that what we do, but global warming is going to have some effect on Earth.

I am going to mention some dangerous effects of global warming over here:

Spread of dangerous diseases

Because of warm northern countries, Disease carrying insects migrate north, bringing plague and disease with them. Scientists believe that thanks to global warming as in some countries malaria has not been fully eradicated.

Increased intensity and probability of heat waves and droughts

Due to global warming, some areas of Earth will become wetter; other areas will suffer serious heat waves and droughts. Africa will receive the worst of it and Europe is also expected with more severe droughts. In Africa, water is already a dangerously rare commodity. Global warming will exacerbate the conditions and also could lead to conflicts and war according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Economic consequences

Most of the effects of global warming won’t be good. And these effects spell one thing for the countries of the world i.e. economic consequences. Hurricanes cause do billions of dollars in diseases, damage cost money to treat, control and conflicts all of these.

Warmer waters as well as more hurricanes

Because of rise in the temperature of oceans, there will the probability of stronger and more frequent hurricanes.

Polar ice caps melting

1. Global warming could snowball with the ice caps gone. Ice caps are white, reflect sunlight and much of which is reelected back into space, cooling Earth. If the ice caps melt then the ocean is the only reflector. Darker colors absorb sunlight and further warming the Earth.

2. Temperature rises and changing landscapes in the artic circle will endanger many species of animals. Only the most adaptable will survive.

I hope all the parts of the world would remain unaffected by the dangerous effects of global warming.

What do you mean by Water harvesting?

i2k2net — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:02:59 +0000

Water harvesting means capturing rain water at the place where it falls or capturing the run off in your own town or village. And to keep that water clean taking measures by not allowing polluting activities to take place in the catchment.

Rainwater harvesting means the gathering and storing, of rainwater. Rainwater harvesting has been used to provide water for livestock, drinking water, and water for irrigation called groundwater recharge. Rainwater collected from the roofs of tents, houses and local institutions or from prepared areas of ground, can make an important contribution to drinking water.

Therefore, water harvesting process has several ways:

•   Capturing runoff from local catchments
•   Capturing runoff from rooftops
•   Conserving water through watershed management
•   Capturing seasonal floodwaters from local streams

These ways can have the following purposes:

•   Provide irrigation water
•   Provide drinking water
•   Increase groundwater recharge
•   Reduce seawater ingress in coastal areas
•   Reduce storm water discharges, urban floods and overloading of sewage treatment plants

Water harvesting is the activity of direct collection of rainwater. The rainwater collected can be recharged into the groundwater or can be stored for direct use. Rain is the first form of water in the hydrological cycle; therefore, it is a primary source of water for us. Lakes, Rivers and groundwater are all secondary sources of water. In current times, we depend fully on those secondary sources of water. In the process, it is forgotten by us that rain is the great sources that feeds all these secondary sources and remain ignorant of its value.

So, Water harvesting means to understand the value of rain and to make use of the rainwater at the place where it falls.

Effects of Methane Gas

i2k2net — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:46:05 +0000

Methane gas (CH4) is explosive and is not flammable in its gaseous state. Methane is not toxic, can displace oxygen and a person in a methane infiltrated environment can asphixiate. It is also rates high as a greenhouse gas and it also contribute to the increase in the rate at which the earth is warming.

When methane is present at high concentrations then it acts as an asphyxiant. Asphyxiants displace oxygen in the air and it can cause symptoms of oxygen deprivation. The oxygen which is available should be a minimum of 18% or harmful effects will result. It is not expected to cause unconsciousness (narcosis) due to central nervous system depression until it reaches much higher concentrations (30% or 300000 ppm) – well above the lower explosive limit and asphyxiating concentrations.

It is un-expected to cause unconsciousness because of central nervous system depression until it reaches much higher concentrations.

Effects of oxygen deficiency are:

12-16%: pulse and breathing rate are increased with slight muscular in-coordination
10-14%: abnormal fatigue from exertion, emotional upsets, disturbed respiration;
6-10%: vomiting and nausea, inability to move freely, possible lack of consciousness, collapse;
Below 6%: gasping, convulsive movements, possible respiratory collapse and death

Methane gas does not irritate the eyes. Contact with the compressed gas or refrigerated liquefied gas escaping from its cylinder may cause freezing or cold burns of the eye. Permanent blindness or eye damage could result.

Methane gas is not a skin irritant. Contact with compressed or the refrigerated liquefied gas escaping from its cylinder may cause frostbite or cold burns.

So, Methane gas is not flammable in its gaseous state.

Causes and Effects of Noise Pollution

i2k2net — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:35:56 +0000

Noise can be defined as unwanted sound. Sound is music which pleases the listeners and that causes pain. This sound disrupts the balance and activity of human or animal life.

Noise Pollution is the name of any displeasing noise which is created by a human, machine or animal. This is a type of energy pollution in which irritating, distracting or damaging sounds are audible freely. Noise Pollution contaminants are not physical particles with other forms of energy pollution like heat and light pollution but waves that interfere with natural waves of a similar type in the same environment.

Causes of Noise Pollution:

•   Noise created by people
•   Noise from railways and aircrafts
•   Sounds from musical instruments
•   Sounds from Motor Vehicles
•   Audio instruments
•   Loudspeakers
•   Car alarms
•   Poor urban planning
•   Factory machinery
•   Office equipment
•   Appliances
•   Grounds keeping Equipment
•   Construction work
•   Power tools
•   Lighting hum
•   Barking animals

Effects of Noise Pollution:

•   A decrease in the efficiency in working as this is the fact that human efficiency increases with noise reduction
•   Temporary or permanent Deafness is the main effect of noise pollution. Locomotive drivers, telephone operators, Mechanics etc all have their hearing impairment.
•   Too much noise disturbs the rhythms of working; therefore it affects the concentration for doing a work. Noise from different sources diverts the attention, thus causing harm in the working standard.
•   Increases the stress levels among people
•   Another effect of noise is Fatigue caused
•   People can be victims of some diseases like mental illness, blood pressure etc.
•   Damages the nervous system of the animals
•   Causes poor quality of crops
•   Creates waves that can be very dangerous and harmful and put the building in danger condition

So, I hope you will reduce the causes of Noise Pollution.

Water pollution has adverse Effect on human health & Aquatic life

i2k2net — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:09:28 +0000

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies like rivers, lakes, groundwater and oceans. Water pollution has worst impact on all plants and organisms that live in these water bodies. In all cases, the impact is damaging to individual species and populations but also to the natural biological communities. When pollutants are discharged indirectly or directly into water bodies without proper treatment to remove harmful constituents then water pollution occurs.

Mostly, the developed countries suffer a lot from such problems of chemical discharge into the water sources mainly groundwater, whereas developing countries face problems of agricultural run-off in water sources. Polluted water such as chemicals in drinking water causes problem to health as well as leads to water-borne diseases that can be prevented by taking measures can be taken at the household level even.

Sources of water pollution:

By poor management, over exploitation and by ecological degradation, freshwater resources are threatened all over the world. The main source of water pollution can be attributed to dumping of industrial effluent, discharge of untreated waste and run-off from agricultural fields. Urbanization, Industrial growth and the increasing use of synthetic organic substances have adverse and serious impacts on freshwater bodies.

Water pollution’s effects:

Its effects are devastating to people as well as animals, birds and fish. Polluted water is not suitable for drinking, agriculture, recreation and for industry. Water pollution reduces the quality of rivers and lakes. The effected water destroys the aquatic life and reduces its reproductive ability and hazard to human health.

How to minimize the Water pollution?

It is a fact that clean water is essential for healthy living. For all human beings on the earth, an adequate supply of clean and fresh drinking water is a basic requirement. The community and the individual can help to reduce water pollution. The amount of waste generated can be minimized by simple housekeeping and management practices.

So, I hope you would like to minimize Water pollution.

What are the effects of air pollution?

i2k2net — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:08:01 +0000

We all known that how much a fresh air is important for us and whenever we breathe, we inhale dangerous chemicals that includes in the air. Air pollution has all contaminants found in the atmosphere. These dangerous substances can be in the form of particles or gases.

Air pollution can be found indoors and outdoors. Pollutants can be trapped inside buildings, causing indoor pollution. So, the sources of air pollution are both human-based and natural. As time has progressed, we humans have been producing increasing amounts of pollution.

The effects of air pollution are numerous and diverse. Air pollution can have severely affects natural ecosystems and serious consequences for the health of human beings.

It is responsible for major health effects. The health of countless people is endangered or ruined by air pollution every year. In the US alone, Studies have estimated that the total number of people killed annually could be over 50,000. Older people are highly vulnerable to diseases due to air pollution. People those with lung or heart disorders are under additional risk. Infants and Children are also at serious risk.

The health effects of air pollutants may range from physiological and subtle biochemical changes to difficulty wheezing, breathing, coughing and aggravation of existing respiratory as well as cardiac conditions. These effects can increase medication use, increased the chances of doctor or emergency room visits, more hospital admissions and even death.

•   Human Cardiovascular System
•   Human Respiratory System
•   Pyramid of Health Effects
•   Heart and Lung Diseases
•   Leading Causes of Hospitalization
•   Leading Causes of Death

I hope you are aware of all these effects of air pollution and will try to reduce the using of harmful chemicals in order to make the environment very healthy.